USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. I > Part 14
USA > Maine > York County > York > History of York, Maine, successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) Vol. I > Part 14
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Robert was a name used in this generation by those two Preble families and Robert is the name of the first Preble who went to Wootton to live, and he became the grandfather of the Abraham who emigrated to York. When he went to Wootton is not known, probably about 1565, the first known date when his name is of record. Wootton is a small parish about eight miles southeast of Canterbury and thirty-five miles distant from the parish of Barming. A mile separates Wootton from Denton whence came the Twisden family, neighbors of the Prebles, to York to become next neighbors in this town. Robert Preble, by estimation, was born about 1530, and by wife Eleanor had three sons and two known daughters. He was buried July 23, 1589 as a "householder" and his widow Eleanor, surviving two years, was buried July 19, 1591 as "widowe of this parishe and leevinge by the Almes of said parishe." Robert, probably the eldest son, born
147
HISTORY OF YORK
about 1560, was a carpenter by trade and the record of his family exists in both the parish registers of Wootton and Denton. In his will dated March 2, 1634-5, proved July 7, 1635, he makes bequest to his son Robert of twenty pounds and to Abraham twenty pounds; to daughter Eleanor Benjamin, six pounds; to daughter Frances Jacobs, eight pounds and to daughter Margaret Preble, four pounds (Arch. Cant. lxix, 85). He was buried in Denton March 7, 1634-5. By wife Joan he had the follow- ing-named children:
i. Robert, b. (1586); m. Aphra Hanbrooke June 20, 1614.
ii. John, bapt. June 10, 1589; died young.
iii. John, bapt. April 5, 1590; died young.
iv. Eleanor, bapt. Jan. 16, 1591-2; died young.
v. Frances, bapt. Sept. 20, 1595; m. - Jacobs.
vi. Margaret, bapt. April 1, 1599; unmarried.
vii. Eleanor, b. (1601); m. Thomas Benjamin.
viii. ABRAHAM, bapt. Jan. 1, 1603-4; the emigrant.
John and Richard Preble, his uncles, both married, leaving issue, and Robert, his nephew, likewise, and from them descend the present family of Prebles in Kent be- longing to the Wootton-Denton branch of the old family. Abraham Preble probably followed the occupation of car- penter and his inventory taken here seems to justify this inference, but there is nothing of record in his English home to throw light on this. He was living in Lydden, a small parish about five miles from Wootton in 1631 as "servant" of Edward Clement, a yeoman (Arch. Cant. lxviii, 164). The death of his father four years later left him free to join the increasing numbers who were then leaving Kent for a new home on the Massachusetts coast in America. It is reasonable to suppose that in this voyage across the Atlantic he was accompanied by John Twisden, once his playmate in Denton, Richard Bankes of Alkham, a parish four miles to the south, and by the Curtis family, lately resident of Ewell, equidistant from Denton, all of whom are found resident in Scituate, Mass., together, a few years later, and finally living in a row of adjacent lots in this town, a perfect example of neighborhood emigra- tion. The exact date of this emigration cannot be stated, but it was before October 10, 1639, when Abraham Preble was a witness at Scituate with Thomas Chambers, the stepfather of the Curtis sons, of whom Thomas, the eldest,
148
NEW SETTLERS OF THE SECOND DECADE
came to York with Preble, Bankes and Twisden. While in Scituate he married January 3, 1641, Judith, daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia (Huckstep) Tilden, one of the Barons of the Cinque Ports, formerly of Tenterden, Kent. She was baptized October 22, 1620 in that town, and by this marriage the carpenter's son and once "servant" of a yeoman made an advantageous social alliance which his father-in-law accepted in view of the promise of the groom's natural abilities, which were shown later in his rise in official life in York.
The rest of the story of this pioneer is connected with this town to which he came in the fall of 1642, where his home lot situated just to the northwest of and adjoining the parish lot remained in the occupation of his descend- ants for over two centuries. He became a provincial Councillor in 1647 and 1650-1, and mayor of Gorgeana the last year, holding that office when Massachusetts in 1652 usurped the government. In 1658 he became a county magistrate as well as commissioner for the town. But few references to him occur after this date and he died Jan- uary 23, 1662-3 aged sixty years. His old neighbors, Richard Bankes and Thomas Curtis, made the following appraisal of his estate on March 30, 1663:
£
5
d
His wearing apparel, shoes and stockings
5
7
0
Bedding and bedsteads
9
15
O
Cabbine and bedding in the chamber
5
O
C
Chests and other small things
2
5
2 pair bandoliers, I warming pan, I old lantern
5 sheets, I sword and shot bag
2
16
4 hogsheads, I tub, I trough
2
12
4 scythes and tackling
IO
I small wheel, 6 bags
IO
Tubs and small things in Leanto
I
I3
2 wheels, one cradle, books and pails
2
IO
Tables, chairs, stools, 2 old brands, kettles, I skillet
15
2 iron pots, I kettle, pot-hooks, etc.
I
Pewter and a frying pan
IS
2 fire-lock guns
I
15
I frying pan and a hammer
9
6 dishes and spoons, I white porringer, 2 platters
9
Beetle rings, 4 wedges, I cheese press
I
6
6
I hair cloth
I
IO
5
0
17
6
2 troughs, I grindstone etc.
2
2 yokes, I chain, copps and yoke tire
149
6
15
4 saws and "several working tools"
II
HISTORY OF YORK
Es d
I cart, I pair wheels, 2 sleds
2
O
0
2 plows with the irons, 2 pitchforks
I
I3 O
In ginger
I canoe, 14 part of 4 canoes
I
18
Dwelling House with outhouses
65
O
Marshes fresh and salt
36
O
Small piece of meadow bot of Richard Howell
4
O
2 lots, being 40 acres at the seaside
15
Lot at seaside exchanged with --- Alcock
IO
20 acres, next Henry Sayward
5
10 acres "given Mr. Godfrey" added to his home lots
5
O
I parcel of wool 20s, parcel of sheep £6
7
O
4 oxen £36, half the cattle 30s
37
IO
2 yearlings and a calf £4, 3 cows £14
I8
O
3 steers, I heifer £10, swine 5-12-0
15
12
O
18 bushels barley and malt
4
IO
C
45 bushels Indian corn
9
o
0
7 bushels wheat 35s; 8 bushels peas 32s
3
7
I bushel oats 5s, pork and beef £3
3
5
O
£289
I O
Edward Rishworth
Richard Bankes
Thomas Curtis
By his wife Judith, who survived, he had the following named children:
i. Abraham, b. 1641; m. Hannah Sayward, (14) May 13, 1685.
ii. Stephen, b. 1645; m. Rachel Main.
iii. Nathaniel, b. 1648; m. Priscilla Main
iv. Joseph, b. (1651); m. Sarah
v. Sarah, b. (1654); m. (1) Abraham Parker; (2) Henry Coombs. vi. Benjamin, b. (1657); m. Mary Batson.
vii. John, b. (1659); m. Hannah
viii. Mary, b. (1662).
I
5
6
In justification of the opening sentence in this sketch of Abraham Preble that it was the most distinguished family originating in York, it can be stated that from his eldest son Abraham, himself a justice of the County Court, has descended a number of the name distinguished on the bench and in the bar of this state; while from Benjamin, the fifth son, came several locally, nationally and internationally famous in military and naval history. Jedediah Preble, son of Benjamin, rendered distinguished service in the French and Indian Wars serving under Wolfe at Quebec and reaching the rank of Brigadier- General in that service. He was appointed Major General
150
NEW SETTLERS OF THE SECOND DECADE
and Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Forces in 1775, but age prevented his active service in the Revolu- tion. He was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. His seventh son was the famous Commodore Edward Preble whose exploits with the Algerine pirates brought him lasting renown. His eighth son, Enoch, was father of the distinguished naval officer Rear-Admiral George Henry Preble, and Lieutenant Edward Preble, U. S. N., his cousin, was the executive officer of the U. S. S. Kear- sarge at the time of her decisive battle which sank the Confederate cruiser Alabama.
JOHN TWISDEN
John Jws film This pioneer bore a sur- name which is one of the old- est and most renowned in the history of Kent from which he came. The Twysdens are an armigerous family whose pedigree in the Visitation of that county extends back to the reign of Edward First, but though the emigrant's line can be proven back to 1450, it has not been possible to attach it to the Visitation family, although they lived in the same locality. The emigrant's first known ancestor was Thomas Twisden of Newenden who died in 1522 leaving a son John, resident of the same parish who died 1542; and he was succeeded by a son John called "gentleman" who resided in Sand- hurst, an adjoining parish. He died in 1591 leaving by wife Anne six sons and three daughters, of whom Robert, born about 1550, became a clergyman and was the father of the emigrant. Rev. Robert Twisden was rector of Staplehurst 1576-86, whence he removed to Denton 1588, where he remained until his death (date unknown), but after 1608. He was also vicar of Swingfield (two miles distant) from 1590, a living which he held for the same period. By his wife Sarah, whose maiden name is un- known, he had six sons and five daughters, viz .:
i. Elizabeth, bapt. 1576; m. Ambrose Drainer June 13, 1597.
ii. Henry, bapt. 1578; m. three times.
iii. William, bapt. Oct. 16, 1580; m. Alice Cave.
iv. Samuel, bapt. July 29, 1582.
v. Sarah, bapt. July 5, 1584.
vi. Susanna, bapt. Oct. 14, 1586; m. William Smith.
vii. Elisha, bapt. May 4, 1590.
viii. JOHN, bapt. Sept. 10, 1592.
151
HISTORY OF YORK
ix. Hannah, bapt. Feb. 28, 1595-6.
x. Elizabeth, bapt. 23 Sept. 1599.
xi. Roger, bapt. July 6, 1602. This was the name commonly used in the armigerous family for many generations.
John Twisden, the emigrant, born in September 1592, at Denton Court, was the oldest of the four neighbors who came from Kent to Scituate and thence to York. He married May 8, 1620 Susanna Stuppell, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Shrimpton) Stuppell. His eldest brother Henry had married in 1612 the widow Mary Stuppell. Shortly after his marriage he removed to Frit- tenden where he was living at the time of his emigration. His last child was baptized there in the spring of 1636, and he had arrived in Scituate some time before August 1638, when his next child was born. He was admitted to the church in 1639, to that section of it which remained after the departure of Rev. John Lothrop and his followers to Barnstable. Difficulties which followed this schism resulted in the formation of a separate organization. In February 1642 with Mr. William Vassall, Thomas Lapham and Thomas King, he opposed the settlement of Rev. Charles Chauncey over this church (Deane, Scituate, pp. 59-63). He was a juror in September 1642 at Scituate and in December following he bought his homestead lot in York adjoining Henry Simpson on the southeast. His life in York is almost a blank as far as public appearances go, and only one appointment on a committee, for the mill in 1652, covers the extent of his public services in the town. He died before November 1660 leaving by his wife Susanna, who survived, the following named children:
i. John, b. (1621); died unmarried.
ii. Peter, bapt. March 28, 1623-4; m. Mary Alcock.
iii. Samuel, bapt. May 13, 1627.
iv. (child), b. Nov. 2, 1629 (still-born).
v. (child), b. Dec. 13, 1630 (still-born).
vi. Mary, bapt. Feb. 19, 1631-2; buried April 12, 1632.
vii. Elizabeth, bapt. Mch. 31, 1633; m. Joseph Tilden 1649.
viii. Susan, bapt. May 22, 1636.
ix. (child), b. Aug. 9, 1638 (still-born).
x. Lydia, b. (1640); m. Arthur Bragdon, Jr.
No descendants of this name remained in York after the Massacre, and only those in the female line of Tilden and Bragdon can claim descent from this fine old family of Kent.
152
NEW SETTLERS OF THE SECOND DECADE
THOMAS CURTIS
Tomar Surfis This settler, the youngest of the four who came here from Scituate in 1642, was the son of Thomas and Richardene ( -- ) Curtis of Ash-juxta-Sandwich, County Kent. By the odd name of his mother it was possible to identify him and his antecedents. His father was a well-to-do yeoman living successively at Worth, Ewell, again at Worth, and finally at Ash, where he died and was buried December 11, 1631, having made a will which named his wife executrix (Con- sistory Cant. xvii, fo. 51). Unfortunately this will is missing from the files, but the inventory is extant which shows the large property valued at £426-16-0.
Of the parentage of Thomas Curtis, the elder, nothing certain can be stated. An ancient and well-known family of this name was resident of Appledore, Kent, as early as 1450, and several descendants were mayors of Tenterden, from whence came several emigrants to Scituate, but extensive search fails to find a place for this Thomas in it. This Appledore-Tenterden Curtis family were armigerous and appear in the "Herald's Visitations." With all the evidence available it is the author's opinion that he is probably identical with the Thomas, son of John Curtis of Folkestone, Kent, who was baptized in that parish November 28, 1574, having younger brothers William and John, which were the names given to his own children. Thomas Curtis of Ash was twice married, first to Bennett Lott (Lic. Dec. 22, 1612), by whom he had issue:
i. Nicholas, b. (1613); d. y.
ii. John, bapt. Sept. 3, 1615; buried Nov. 12, 1616 at Worth.
His wife Bennett died in childbirth, and was buried Sep- tember 8, 1615, and he married about 1617-8 Richardene -, by whom he had the following issue:
iii. Thomas, bapt. Nov. 2, 1619, the emigrant to York.
iv. Richard, b. (1621); emigrated to Scituate, 1638.
v. Elizabeth, bapt. Aug. 1624; m. Richard Bankes the emigrant to York.
vi. William, b. (1626); buried Sept. 16, 1630 at Worth.
vii. William, b. (1628); emigrated to Scituate, 1638.
viii. Stephen, bapt. Dec. 5, 1629; buried Sept. 10, 1630 (Ash).
ix. John, bapt. May 13, 1632; emigrated to Scituate, 1638; d.s.p. 1680.
I53
HISTORY OF YORK
After the death of Thomas Curtis the elder, his widow married June 25, 1632, Thomas Chambers, and in 1637-8, as previously stated, he emigrated to Scituate, Mass., with his wife and all the above children of his predecessor.
IMANGEK
VIEW IN ASH-JUXTA-SANDWICH, KENT The Home of Thomas Curtis
Thomas Curtis came to Gorgeana in 1642, with the other Scituate men, to take up, with Richard Bankes, his brother-in-law, a moiety of the lot which Chambers had bought of Godfrey some time before, and there he lived until his death in the massacre. He held no public office until 1668 when he was a Selectman, and again in 1674, 1675, 1683 and 1684. He was twice married: (1) Eliza- beth - and (2) Abigail -- , but their maiden names are unknown. It is probable that the first wife was of Scituate, as her first child was sent to that town for baptism. He had the following issue by one or both wives:
i. Elizabeth, bapt. Aug. 19, 1649 (Scituate).
ii. Joseph, b. (1651); m. Sarah Foxwell Sept. 2, 1678; resided Kittery.
iii. Abigail, b. (1653); m. Benoni Hodsden.
iv. Job, b. (1655); m. Bethiah Marston about March 1717.
v. Benjamin, b. (1657); m. Martha Farrow of Wells. .
vi. Samuel, bapt. 1659 (Scituate); removed to Scituate and died there.
vii. ----- , b. (1661); m. John Cooke.
viii. Dodivah, b. (1663).
ix. Hannah, b. (1664); m. Jabez Jenkins.
154
NEW SETTLERS OF THE SECOND DECADE
x. Sarah, b. (1665).
xi. Rebecca, b. (1667).
xii. Lydia, b. (1669).
xiii. Anne, b. (1671); m. Alexander Thompson.
His will dated April 19, 1680 was not offered for probate until 1706, when an inventory of his estate was brought in showing property to the value of £100-15-0.
RICHARD BANKES
Lugano 25 antly This early settler, a direct ancestor of the author, came to Gorgeana with Abraham Preble; his brother-in-law, Thomas Curtis, and John Twisden, Sr. from Scituate, Mass., in 1643 where he, with his three asso- ciates, settled on land since known as Scituate Row be- cause of their origin in that town. He is the ancestor of a family which has existed in this town for three centuries.
For over half a century the English origin of this set- tler has been the object of a more or less intensive search and the author regrets that it is not possible, for lack of definite means of identification, to state this positively, but it is believed that he can be definitely placed as a Kentish man coming from the same locality as his New England associates in Scituate who migrated with him to this town. It is sound genealogical reasoning to assume that this fourth member of the Scituate party came from the same region in Kent as his fellow townsmen, par- ticularly as he had married a sister of one of them. Such a person bearing the name of Richard Bankes has been found as a resident of the parish of Alkham in that county, about three miles from Denton and Wootton where Preble and Twisden lived and about two miles from the parish where his brother-in-law, Thomas Curtis, and stepfather, Thomas Chambers, lived. This Richard Bankes was called a tailor, aged about twenty-four years, when he was licensed to marry October 25, 1631 at St. Andrews, Canterbury, to one Joan Harrison of Elham of the same age. If this identification is accepted, as there is no evidence to the contrary, three children were born to them and the last one baptized September 5, 1641. This family disappears completely from the parish records of Alkham and is not
155
HISTORY OF YORK
found later in any parish in Kent. One child had been buried.
Richard Bankes appears in Scituate, Mass., where he took the oath of fidelity at some unknown date before 1644, probably about 1642, and there is nothing to show that he came with a family, and it is assumed that this
CHURCH AT ALKHAM, KENT
wife and the two young children died before his emigra- tion. The Scituate records yield no information on this, or the known fact that he married for a second wife Elizabeth Curtis, sister of Thomas Curtis, and step- daughter of Thomas Chambers above named, about 1644. He had by her one daughter, Elizabeth, born about 1645, who married (1) William Blackmore, 1666 and (2) Jacob Bumpus, 1676-7. She was living in 1709 in Middle- borough, Mass., but what became of the mother is un- known, perhaps dying in childbirth. Richard Bankes married for his third wife Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Alcock of this town, about 1655, by whom he had two known sons, viz .:
i. John, b. about 1657.
ii. Joseph, b. 1667.
iii. Job (?), named for her brother; died without issue, probably in the Massacre of 1692.
156
NEW SETTLERS OF THE SECOND DECADE
Richard Bankes assumed early his share of the burdens and responsibilities of office as a leading citizen, before and after the usurpation. It will be helpful to group these public activities in order: Provincial Counsellor or Assist- ant, 1651, 1652, in the administration of Governor God- frey; Selectman, 1653-4-6-9, 1676-9, 1680; Juror, 1649, 1653, 1655-6-8, 1661-2-4-5-8-9, 1671; Trial Justice or Commissioner, 1669, 1672, 1679; Court Appraiser, 1659, 1663, 1671-6-9, 1681-6, 1691, besides several other spe- cial appointments, as Tax Commissioner, 1652, Overseer of County Prison, 1673. He figures once in court as defendant in a suit of trespass, 1654, involving the title to marsh land in which he was mulcted for costs of the suit. In 1673, with Edward Rishworth, he was the joint signer of a letter to the churches inviting the churches to send delegates to a council to settle Rev. Shubael Dummer (his brother-in-law) as pastor of the church at York.
He was killed in the Indian Massacre January 25, 1692, and his widow and two sons made an agreement April 22, 1696 as to the division of the estate (York Deeds vi, 123). The genealogy of this family will appear in Volume III of this history.
ROBERT KNIGHT
The only definite fact known about this settler is that he was born in 1585 (Deeds i, pt. 2, fo. 14), but where this occurred has not been solved. From association of names here in York it is possible that he came from Shepton Mallet, county Somerset, where a Samuel Adams and a Tapp family resided, as also a Robert Knight. This sur- name is of such common occurrence that identification is not easy without additional facts. He was a mason by occupation and may have been encouraged to emigrate for employment about the mills. His first recorded appear- ance in York is on July 22, 1642 when he bought of Ralph Blaisdell, then of Salisbury, a house and lot (Deeds iii, 42). This was on the east side of the river, bordering on Meeting House Creek, and came into the possession of Rowland Young who had married his daughter. On No- vember 26, 1646 he bought a house and lot of Bartholomew Barnard of fifty acres at Old Mill Creek (Ibid. i, 30). He was a juror 1646-1647 and in 1650 and 1666 was a grand juror. He was chosen Selectman 1650, 1652, 1653, 1654,
157
HISTORY OF YORK
1656, 1658, 1659, 1661, 1663 and 1667. He signed the Sub- mission 1652 and the petition to Cromwell in 1656.
He may have settled first in Hampton, N. H., as he owned property in that town which he sold after he had come to York. His son, Richard, was of Hampton in 1640. The wife of Robert Knight, whose name is unknown, testified in 1650 in a case concerning Mrs. Jane Bond, and 1659 "Goodwife" Knight of Accomenticus owed the es- tate of Bozoun Allen of Boston £2-16-10, presumably the wife of Robert.
Sometime before 1676 he removed to Boston where he lived with his son, Richard, who had been a resident there for some years. It is believed that Robert Knight died in that town in 1676, leaving the following will:
The last Will & Testament of Robert Knight of Yorke/ Concerning the small Estate left by the prouidence of god vnto mee, I doe be- queath & dispose of as followeth/ Imprs: fiue Acres of Marsh bounded West & by South, on the one side, West & by North on the other side, vpland butting on the land of Thomas Beeson, & soe back vnto the swampe vntill It come to a Prcell of Land of Mr Samll Mauericks, with an house and barne on the sayd Land, of Robert Knights, also two Cows & a bull all wch as aboue expressed, alsoe wtsoeuer else shall be found to mee belonging, on or in the sayd house land or barne, I do whoolely & for euer. bequeath, vnto my sonn Richd Knight liueing in Boston, & to his Assignes for euer/ In witness of all which as aboue written, I haue here vnto sett my hand & seale this 23d day of June 1676:
Owned & Delivered
The marke of
In the Prsence of Nicholas Willmott/ his marke X
Robert x Knight (Locus) (Sigilli)
John Tucker/
William Bartholomew/
Sworn to by the attesting witness 24 Aug. 1676; recorded 28 Feby 1678.
He left the following named children:
i. Richard, b. before 1619; of Hampton, N. H. 1640, where he was called a miller and carpenter.
ii. Margaret, b. about 1622; m. John Redman of Hampton; d. May 30, 1658.
iii. Joanna, b. about 1625; m. Rowland Young as his second wife about 1648.
158
NEW SETTLERS OF THE SECOND DECADE
THOMAS MORTON, GENTLEMAN
Immediately following a year's imprisonment in irons in a damp dungeon in Boston, with no charge against him except that of publishing a book, there came to this town to spend his last days in the land that he loved and praised, the famous Thomas Morton, author of "New England's Canaan." He had been held "in expectation of further evidence out of England," but as nothing was forthcoming he was fined one hundred pounds, which was not collected and "set at liberty," which he improved by leaving their jurisdiction and came to York. Winthrop said they re- frained from inflicting corporal punishment on him, in addition, as he was "old and crazy"1 (Journal ii, 196). He was undoubtedly broken in health as a result of his confinement and in marked contrast physically with the Tom Morton of 1624 who tried to revive the old English custom of celebrating dances round the Maypole at Merry Mount. The story of his conflicts with the Pilgrims and Puritans, his two banishments from the colony, are well advertised and need no rehearsal here. He was the one emigrant to our shores who added something to the joy of life in the drab communities that surrounded him and it is not symbolic of the square deal to accept the prejudiced views of the Puritan journalists, Bradford and Winthrop, as unsubstantiated stories of his career in Massachusetts. He was a foeman worthy of their steel, and that he held them up to deserved ridicule in his book, the most readable volume on the time he was here, proved to be the cause of his arrest in 1643 as "our professed old adversary," said Winthrop. It is not intended here to offer a plea in abate- ment in his case. He was an English gentleman, educated in the law at Clifford's Inn, London, a lover of outdoor sports, hunting, hawking and fishing, simply a square peg in a round hole with Pilgrim beadles and Puritan catch- poles watching his every act to hale him into their courts. He is his own best advocate. It has been noted that he was a witness to the charter of Agamenticus, and it is more than probable that he came here to be with his friend and contemporary, Edward Johnson, who had lived at Wey- mouth next to Braintree, the residence of Morton when in
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